Whether you're neurodivergent or not, navigating college or university is a skill. It's something that has to be learned and it is something that isn't usually taught. Some schools are better at helping diverse thinkers than others. Most schools are really bad at it in my opinion. Some schools are more inclusive. There are a range of experiences, which is something to keep in mind.
Another thing about college is that it is actually not all that uncommon for this to be the time in many people's lives where they are diagnosed with ADHD, depression, bipolar disorder, etc. Being away from home for the first time means we're away from a lot of the support we had. There are no teachers checking if we did our homework. There are no parents asking to see our tests or making sure we ate something other than potato chips for dinner. Rather than having multiple smaller assignments and multiple opportunities to improve our grade over the course of a year, now we have short semesters and our final exam is 30% of our entire grade. Lots of things about higher education make life harder. The freedom is exciting of course, but sometimes we don't make the best choices and we don't realize what we're doing wrong. My first semester in college, I studied harder than I ever had before but my grades had never been lower. I had to completely rethink how I studied for exams, took notes, and asked for help. Help yourself out by getting organized before the semester even starts.
There's a lot to learn and it's normal to feel overwhelmed, like this wasn't meant for you, and like nothing you try matters. Lots of people struggle. More people than you think walk out of college with a new diagnosis they didn't realize they had been struggling with their entire life. It's a dysfunctional place and it wasn't made for most of us. It's important to remember all of that when you're feeling down about yourself.
You do belong here though. Whether you want to be a scientist or a designer or have no clue what you want to do once you finish college, you belong here. You should never believe anyone who tells you can't finish college because you have ADHD or you don't deserve to be in university or you can't possibly major in chemistry because of ADHD. None of that is true. With the right support, you can do it. It might take you longer, you might need accommodations, you might have a different experience than neurotypical students, but who is to say any of that is bad? It's not. P.S. I recommend finding some sort of community, whether it's on Twitter or a support group that is in-person at school or virtual. These resources may help.
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AuthorThere's a reason theADHDAcademic is an anonymous account and there's a reason why this website will remain anonymous. That said, there are some basics it might be helpful to know about me: DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional or a lawyer of any kind. All text, graphics, and content on this website are for educational purposes only. Any and all content should not be substituted for medical or legal advice. Although I strive to provide the most accurate, current, and scientifically sound information, content should never be substituted for professional advice. Always consult a medical and/or legal professional before making any decisions. Links are provided only for reference and do not necessarily imply endorsement.
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